Simple, Compound, Complex and CC Sentences: Teach Fluency with Mentor Sentences

Teach fluency to your high school students in a meaningful way. By using mentor sentences, you can teach simple, compound, complex and compound complex sentences in a way that engages your students. Students will observe, discuss, and respond to mentor sentences, and then craft their own! They'll also learn the correct punctuation for these sentences, which tackles the problem of the run on sentence!

The mentor sentence is a carefully selected sentence from a published work that highlights a specific grammar concept.

In this lesson you will teach students what the four sentence types are: simple, compound, complex, and compound complex. Then, you will show them examples of each type of sentence from published works. You'll open up the conversation about what is going on in that sentence, breaking down the concepts into meaningful pieces. Last, students will write their own sentences (each type) using the mentor sentences as a guide. Students should have some knowledge of what an independent and subordinate clause is before completing this lesson. I have a lesson on clauses in my store, so start there!

This is a way to teach grammar that translates into students becoming more fluent writers.

 What you get in this lesson:

• 17 slides that guide your students through the concepts of what each sentence is, when to use it, and how to punctuate it
• Many examples from published writers that show the benefits of each type of sentence
• Teacher notes on every slide about how to teach the concepts and possible student responses
• Guided notes for students to keep them engaged and organized
• A NO PREP, engaging, meaningful lesson that can be used at any point in the school year with any high school classroom.

 When can you use this lesson:

• Near the beginning of the year to introduce writing concepts
• Before a major writing assignment is due to remind them of the importance of fluency
• When you have 20 minutes to fill
• Before standardized or state mandated tests that will ask students about grammar concepts
• ANY TIME, basically!

I can not emphasize enough how much this method changed my entire approach to grammar. Not only did it allow my students to finally "get" concepts, but they actually started writing better in the essays they would turn in weeks after the lesson. The concepts stick!

You can easily do this remotely if you are practicing virtual learning. The entire lesson is in a google slides format and is completely editable.

Any student can become a better writer while understanding grammar concepts through this proven step-by-step process!